CHAP. XX. 



AUUANTIA CKiE. 



395 



with glass during winter, and exposed to the air during summer. In a con- 

 servative arboretum, it may be preserved by placing litter, fern, or spruce 

 branches round the roots, and covering the top with a case of wickerwork, 

 which, in climates colder than that of London, may be thatched. There are 

 stools of it in the open ground in the Kensington Nursery, and in some 

 others; but they are protected with mats in winter. 



* Other Species and Varieties of Thea. 

 «t 3. T. cochinchine'nsis Lour,, the Cochin-China Tea, 



is said to have narrower leaves than the other species, and to have 1-seeded fruit opening at the 

 apex. It is a shrub, growing 8 ft. high, and the leaves are used by the inhabitants of Cochin-China 

 medicinally, as a sudorific and refrigerant. It has not yet been introduced into Britain, and is, in all 

 probabilityj only a variety of the green tea. 



« 4. T. OLEo^sA Lour., the oily Tea, 



has lanceolate leaves, and pedimcles 3-flo\vered, and auxiliary. An oil is said to be obtained from 

 the seed of this shrub, which has not yet been introduced into Britain. 



A species of tea grown in the province of Canton, with a pale-coloured leaf, which is occasionally 

 mixed with Congou tea, is mentioned by Mr. Reeves [Rcyle's Illust.,^. ; and this, with the 

 numerous other sorts which are, doubtless, in cultivation in China and Japan, may be expected in 

 Britain at some future period. 



Sect. III. Afiticipated Ternsttvmmcess. 



We have already mentioned that there are, undoubtedly, many varieties 

 of Camellia japonica in China and Japan which have not yet found their way 

 to Britain ; and there can be no doubt that the varieties of the green tea are 

 still moi'e numerous. In p. 173., it appears that Eurya acuminata, which 

 belongs to this order, is likely to be hardy. This shrub, Mr. Royle observes, 

 attains the height of about 8 ft. or 10 ft., and is common in the Himalaya at 

 an elevation of 6500 ft. The leaves are thick, coriaceous, finely serrated, 

 smooth, and the young ones hairy. The flowers, owing to the early fall of 

 the leaves from the lower parts of the branches, appear to be lateral; but 

 they actually rise out of the axils of the fallen leaves. The plant is a 

 handsome evergreen bush, well meriting introduction. (Eoj/le's Illust., p. 128.) 



CHAP. XX. 



OF THE HALF-HARDY LIGNEOUS PLANTS OF THE ORDER 

 AURANTIA'CE.a;. 



We introduce this order for the sake of noticing two 

 genera, the species of which may, with care, be cultivated 

 against flued walls without the protection of glass. These 

 genera are Citrus and Liinhnia. The species of the first 

 are trees universally known and admired, natives of 

 India ; and those of the second Himalayan shrubs, grow- 

 ing at considerable elevations in Nepal. 



Orange trees, when first introduced into England in 

 1595, were grown against a wall at Bedington, in Surrey, 

 and flowered and fruited there for many years ; till, as 

 Evelyn informs us (see E. of Gard., ed. 1835, p. 967.), they 

 were neglected. With a little care, and without the ex- 

 pense of glass, there can be no doubt that all the Citrus 

 family might be grown against a hot wall in the climate of 

 London, m as great, or greater perfection, than theyjare 

 now to be seen in those formal artificial contrivances, 

 tubs and iboxes kept under glass, and which are far more 

 expensive than hollow walls to be heated by steam or 

 smoke flues, and protected by thatched hurdles, or reed 

 or straw mats. Those who have seen the walls covered 

 with orange and lemon trees at Woodhall in West Lothian, 

 at Coombe Royal in Devonshire, and at M. Fion's in 

 Paris, will not wonder at our great anxiety to encou- 

 rage the culture of this plant in the conservative man- 

 ner. We have also seen fine orange trees in the neigh- 



